42 U.S. Code § 629a - Definitions

The term “family preservation services” means services for children and families designed to help families (including adoptive and extended families) at risk or in crisis, including—

(A)service programs designed to help children—

(i)where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or

(ii)be placed for adoption, with a legal guardian, or, if adoption or legal guardianship is determined not to be safe and appropriate for a child, in some other planned, permanent living arrangement;

(B)preplacement preventive services programs, such as intensive family preservation programs, designed to help children at risk of foster care placement remain safely with their families;

(C)service programs designed to provide followup care to families to whom a child has been returned after a foster care placement;

(D)respite care of children to provide temporary relief for parents and other caregivers (including foster parents);

(E)services designed to improve parenting skills (by reinforcing parents’ confidence in their strengths, and helping them to identify where improvement is needed and to obtain assistance in improving those skills) with respect to matters such as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, and nutrition; and

(F)infant safe haven programs to provide a way for a parent to safely relinquish a newborn infant at a safe haven designated pursuant to a State law.

(2) Family support services

(A) In general

The term “family support services” means community-based services designed to carry out the purposes described in subparagraph (B).

(vi)To enhance child development, including through mentoring (as defined in section
629i(b)(2) of this title).

(3) State agency

The term “State agency” means the State agency responsible for administering the program under subpart 1.

(4) State

The term “State” includes an Indian tribe or tribal organization, in addition to the meaning given such term for purposes of subpart 1.

(5) Indian tribe

The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in section
628(c) of this title.

(6) Tribal organization

The term “tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section
628(c) of this title.

(7) Time-limited family reunification services

(A) In general

The term “time-limited family reunification services” means the services and activities described in subparagraph (B) that are provided to a child that is removed from the child’s home and placed in a foster family home or a child care institution and to the parents or primary caregiver of such a child, in order to facilitate the reunification of the child safely and appropriately within a timely fashion, but only during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child, pursuant to section
675(5)(F) of this title, is considered to have entered foster care.

(B) Services and activities described

The services and activities described in this subparagraph are the following:

(v)Services designed to provide temporary child care and therapeutic services for families, including crisis nurseries.

(vi)Peer-to-peer mentoring and support groups for parents and primary caregivers.

(vii)Services and activities designed to facilitate access to and visitation of children by parents and siblings.

(viii)Transportation to or from any of the services and activities described in this subparagraph.

(8) Adoption promotion and support services

The term “adoption promotion and support services” means services and activities designed to encourage more adoptions out of the foster care system, when adoptions promote the best interests of children, including such activities as pre- and post-adoptive services and activities designed to expedite the adoption process and support adoptive families.

(9) Non-Federal funds

The term “non-Federal funds” means State funds, or at the option of a State, State and local funds.

(b) Other terms

For other definitions of other terms used in this subpart, see section
675 of this title.

A prior section 431 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section
631 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.

Amendments

2011—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 112–34, § 102(c)(1), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘family support services’ means community-based services to promote the safety and well-being of children and families designed to increase the strength and stability of families (including adoptive, foster, and extended families), to increase parents’ confidence and competence in their parenting abilities, to afford children a safe, stable, and supportive family environment, to strengthen parental relationships and promote healthy marriages, and otherwise to enhance child development.”

“(5) Tribal organization.—The term ‘tribal organization’ means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe.

“(6) Indian tribe.—The term ‘Indian tribe’ means any Indian tribe (as defined in section
682(i)(5) of this title, as in effect before August 22, 1996) and any Alaska Native organization (as defined in section
682(i)(7)(A) of this title, as so in effect).”

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–34effective Oct. 1, 2011, and applicable to payments under this part and part E of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether implementing regulations have been promulgated, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 107 ofPub. L. 112–34, set out as a note under section
622 of this title.

Effective Date of 2006 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–288effective Oct. 1, 2006, and applicable to payments under this part and part E of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether implementing regulations have been promulgated, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 12(a), (b) ofPub. L. 109–288, set out as a note under section
621 of this title.

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–133effective Jan. 17, 2002, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 301 ofPub. L. 107–133, set out as a note under section
629 of this title.

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–169effective as if included in the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 401(q) ofPub. L. 106–169, set out as a note under section
602 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by section 305(b)(2), (c)(2) ofPub. L. 105–89effective Nov. 19, 1997, except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 501 ofPub. L. 105–89, set out as a note under section
622 of this title.